Archives

Radical is Logical: A Christian Manifesto

It is often posited by “cultural Christians” that radical, gut-level faith in our unseen God is illogical. That a biblical lifestyle of serving Christ is irresponsible. They wouldn’t use those words, but we can speak frankly.

Think about this. How much sense does it make to try to dedicate your life to building the “American dream”, instead of casting trust on the One from whom everything comes? Does it make one bit of sense to toil like a maniac in your attempt to make money, find security, and ensure comfort and safety, instead of using your life to serve the almighty God who decides whether or not you take another breath? And on top of that, to give God our leftovers after we’re done getting our own affairs in order?

It makes no sense. It’s completely illogical.

In fact, I’ve never heard it phrased quite like this, but I have begun to realize the truth of the following statement:

To be radically dedicated and devoted to Jesus Christ, whatever the cost, is the only LOGICAL way for a Christian to live.

Sounds weird, right? The world doesn’t ever use “radical” and “logical” in the same sentence. To the world, those words are polar opposites. But consider…

In Luke 9:22, Jesus reveals to His disciples that He will soon be humiliated and murdered:

And he said, “The Son of Man must suffer many things and be rejected by the elders, chief priests and teachers of the law, and he must be killed and on the third day be raised to life.”

Then He says in verses 23 through 26:

“If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross daily and follow me. For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it. What good is it for a man to gain the whole world, and yet lose or forfeit his very self? If anyone is ashamed of me and my words, the Son of Man will be ashamed of him when he comes in his glory and in the glory of the Father and of the holy angels.”

It’s not a coincidence that the Lord gave this statement right after telling His disciples that He was going to be mocked and murdered. He’s basically saying, “This is it, guys. I’m going to suffer and die. For you. It’s going to be terrible. And if you really want to be my followers, you have to be willing to do the same for my name. You have to be willing to lay down your very lives for me. And you can trust me, if you do that, what I give back to you will be unfathomably better.”

This is a pretty intense declaration! Yet so many Christians live as if Christ had commanded something like this: “Whoever wants to follow me only has to claim to be my follower. Pray a prayer. Once you do that, you can kind of tuck me away in your back pocket until you need me again. Just use all your energy, time, and resources to make yourself and your family as comfortable as possible. And don’t worry about sharing the Gospel if it makes you uncomfortable. Please, don’t inconvenience yourself on account of me.”

In light of Christ’s actual words, written clearly above for everyone to read, what is truly logical for the Christian?

Is it logical to be lukewarm and half-hearted? Clearly not! We are to lay down our lives for Him. That’s what Christ means by His declaring that His followers must be “born again”. Not an “improved version of their former self”, but a new birth, a new person, a new creation!

Read the passages. Deny yourself. Pick up your cross. Lose your life. Be unashamed. This is the reality of what Christ expects of His followers.

For those who call themselves Christians, the only logical response to our Savior’s universe-tilting love is to gladly obey His call to a radical lifestyle of serving Him.

Share this:

Related

4 Responses to “Radical is Logical: A Christian Manifesto”

This is the kind of truth we all need to hear. I have been pondering authority lately and some of these same truths and verses and seeing that so many don’t want to make Christ their authority or don’t want to submit to His authority. I’m praying today that we’ll do both.

Amen to that! Submitting to Christ in all things is the heart of true revival. It’s the true Gospel – which is a stumbling block to many – but to those who believe, it’s the power of God to save. I thank God that we have a teaching pastor who does not shy away from these truths.